Former Air Force ROTC commander retires, honored at ceremony

9/9/2013

TUSKEGEE,
Ala. (September 9, 2013) — The Air Force ROTC celebrated the tenure and
retirement of Lt. Col. Kelly J. Primus Friday at the Gen. Daniel “Chappie”
James Museum. In a small ceremony attended by her family, cadets, cadre
members, university staff and Tuskegee University President Gilbert L. Rochon,
Kelly’s career and personal character were celebrated.

Col.
Sherry Stearns-Boles, Deputy Commander, Headquarters, Air Force ROTC, served as
the officiating officer for the ceremony. Stearns-Boles said that Primus was successful
in her career because she embodied the core principles of the United States Air
Force — “Integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do.”

“You
are a hero,” Stearns-Boles said to Primus. “Heroes are people who make a
difference in the lives of people every day,”

Primus
entered the Air Force in 1990 as a missile launch officer, where she received
the Operations Missile Badge. She was commander of the Tuskegee University Air
Force ROTC from March 2009 to June 2013. Her retirement from the U.S. Air Force
is effective Oct. 1. Dex McCain, former squadron commander of the 22nd
Training Support Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, will now serve as the Air
Force ROTC commander.

During
the ceremony, Primus was presented with several honors including a United
States flag and certificate of appreciation from President Barack Obama.

“I
feel good about retiring because I know the Air Force is going to be in good
hands,” Primus said to the cadets in the audience. “I wish you all the luck.
Keep the legacy going.”